‘Defence lawyers need additional legal aid funding to help them check and challenge the increasing complexity of digital evidence gathered for criminal prosecutions, the official forensic science regulator has warned. Dr Gillian Tully told the Forensics Europe Expo in London that time pressures to meet deadlines for complying with new digital forensics standards could result in “a bit of a car crash” if firms are not ready in time.’

‘A clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne has been granted the UK’s first licence to carry out a trial of “three person IVF” (Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy, or MRT). The fertility technique is intended to be used by couples who want to prevent genetic diseases being passed on to their children, due to faulty mitochondrial DNA. The process uses genetic material from the mother, father and a female donor, and replaces faulty genetic material in the mother’s DNA with the female donor’s genetic material.’

‘A businessman has been jailed for raping a woman 26 years ago after police linked him to the crime when he was arrested and had his DNA taken following a row with a group of rowdy teenagers outside his £500,000 home.’

‘The quality of forensic science work in England and Wales is putting the integrity of the criminal justice system at risk, an expert has warned. Forensic Science Regulator Gillian Tully said some police forces were not committed to meeting the required standards, and there was a significant risk of DNA contamination.’

‘James Warnock, 56, was sentenced today at the Central Criminal Court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of seventeen-year-old Yiannoulla Yianni in August 1982. He was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for the rape of Yiannoulla. Warnock was convicted on 14 July 2016. The crimes took place in Yiannoulla’s home, where she lived with her family, in Hampstead, north London.’